Papillon and his Brothers planned an uprising against the white colonists of Saint-Domingue to secure the freedom of the colony's slaves. At a vodou ceremony at Bois Caïman in 1791, Papillon, Georges Biassou and Jeannot Bullet were prophesized to become leaders of the rebellion by Dutty Boukman.

After Boukman's death later that year, Papillon was promoted to commander-in-chief of the slave army. The rebellion was temporarily put on hold after Bullet began to brutally slaughter whites and mulattoes, after which Papillon and Biassou brought him before their Brother Eseosa. Eseosa sentenced him to die for breaking the first tenet of their Creed.

By 1801, both Papillon and Biassou had cut their ties with their Brothers in the French colony, instead joining the Spanish, however, Biassou died the same year in Florida. By 1804, Papillon had left Saint-Domingue, presumably for Florida as well.